Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Gambia instead of Somalia, you would:

Health

live 11.9 years longer

In Somalia, the average life expectancy is 56 years (53 years for men, 58 years for women) as of 2022. In Gambia, that number is 68 years (66 years for men, 69 years for women) as of 2022.

be 18.0 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Somalia, 0.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Gambia, that number is 1.8% of people as of 2020.

be 24.1% more likely to be obese

In Somalia, 8.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Gambia, that number is 10.3% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 93.3% more money

Somalia has a GDP per capita of $1,500 as of 2023, while in Gambia, the GDP per capita is $2,900 as of 2023.

be 65.9% less likely to be unemployed

In Somalia, 19.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Gambia, that number is 6.5% as of 2023.

Life

be 26.2% less likely to die during childbirth

In Somalia, approximately 621.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Gambia, 458.0 women do as of 2020.

be 57.0% less likely to die during infancy

In Somalia, approximately 86.5 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Gambia, on the other hand, 37.2 children do as of 2022.

have 27.0% fewer children

In Somalia, there are approximately 37.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Gambia, there are 27.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 33.7% more likely to have access to electricity

In Somalia, approximately 49% of people have electricity access (71% in urban areas, and 31% in rural areas) as of 2022. In Gambia, that number is 65% of people on average (82% in urban areas, and 31% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 2.3 times more likely to have internet access

In Somalia, approximately 14.5% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Gambia, about 33.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 9.3 times more on education

Somalia spends 0.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2019. Gambia spends 2.8% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

Geography

see 97.4% less coastline

Somalia has a total of 3,025 km of coastline. In Gambia, that number is 80 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

Gambia: At a glance

Gambia is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 10,120 sq km. The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty, but tensions have flared up intermittently since then. Yahya JAMMEH led a military coup in 1994 that overthrew the president and banned political activity. A new constitution and presidential elections in 1996, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. JAMMEH has been elected president in all subsequent elections including most recently in late 2011.
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How big is Gambia compared to Somalia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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